Blackmore’s Night Release Best Of Collection To The Moon And back on 11th August

1996 – a snowy winter in Massachusetts. Inside the lodge around a fireplace, a guitarist plays some beautiful acoustic tunes, and a singer with an ethereal voice joins in, they play throughout the night – creating songs of myths and fantasy, inspired by nature. All this is occurring while Rainbow are recording their last CD, Stranger in Us All. Ritchie Blackmore and Candice Night are using their secluded time around the fire in the middle of winter to create some beautiful music inspired by many melodies of the Renaissance period, and Blackmore-ised into contemporary music. We call it Renaissance/Folk/Rock.

1997 – the first CD by Blackmore’s Night is released- Shadow of the Moon and immediately goes gold in Japan and wins awards worldwide. Their fan base is ecstatic and ever growing and devoted, they have created a genre of music for all ages. Grandparents, Parents, children-everyone embracing their medieval mood music and gypsy dances.

1997-2017- 20th Anniversary of Blackmore’s Night
Every one of their studio CDs has been given awards such as Best of the Year or Best Vocal album of the year and all debuting in top five of Billboards charts. Their sold out live concerts in castles and Unesco sites worldwide are filled with thousands of fans dressed in Renaissance garb, dancing and singing as if time stood still, no clocks, no pressure, just the gaiety and camaraderie of a medieval pub, everyone joins in.
Their latest release due out on August 11 is a ‘Best Of’ compilation – most requested and beloved songs from their fans but also contains several bonuses. 4 brand new versions of their songs and two brand new songs including Ritchie Blackmore’s latest version of Land of Hope and Glory and Candice Night singing a favoured Rainbow tune ‘I Surrender’.

When on tour, the Blackmore’s Night touring group is made up of 7 extremely talented musicians, Ritchie plays acoustic guitar, mandolin, mandola, cello and hurdy gurdy and Candice performs on 7 medieval woodwinds including bagpipe chanters, shawm, corner muse, penny whistles, recorders etc as well as writing all the lyrics and performing lead vocals. Our other musicians are Bard David on keyboards and back-up vocals, Scarlet Fiddler on Violin, Lady Lyn on Shawm and back-up vocals, Earl Grey on Base and rhythm guitar and Troubadour of Aberdeen on percussion

“When we first started this Renaissance musical journey 20 years ago, it began in the most unlikely of places. A darkened recording studio, in front of a raging fireplace with mountains of snow outside and a band of rockers doing their backing tracks for a completely different CD in a completely different genre. Yet, there we were, gazing out that window or into that fire, playing the acoustic guitar and writing lyrics; while the rest of them existed in their world, we were the only inhabitants in ours. Inspired by all things from another century we never truly felt at home in this one. Not until we created our own musical escape that helped us co-exist. Allowed us to dress as our spirits wanted, portray the dreams and visions we imagined within the realms of music, which had no boundaries. We were free. Each song took us down another pathway through the wilderness…fed our hungry souls. We knew we were alone there, but we were at home and comfortable. And then…one day…someone heard our music in the darkness. They asked us if we wanted to share the music with the rest of the world. We thought about it for a long time, it was a whole new path. We had melded together music from eras gone past with lyrics of modern day faerie tales, creating a new genre. We weren’t sure that anyone else would be interested. Besides sharing this side with the world exposed us deeply. Left us open and incredibly vulnerable. But we decided if even 1 other lost person felt their home within our songs, then it would be worth it. It was never for popularity, for radio play, or for money. It wasn’t about filling seats at concerts. It was strictly what our hearts called for. The songs flowed out of us and now we find ourselves looking back 20 years later over so many CDs, so many DVDs and so many fans worldwide. To perform in a 12th century castle courtyard with the moon rising above you, singing songs you created with thousands of people, many of whom are dressed up in garb…if you experience something like that once in your life, count yourself blessed. We have been lucky enough to experience that each time we perform. And it is pure magic. Candice Obviously our music will not be played in commercial radio or in the latest dance clubs. We like to think that our music comes from a place where music is more sacred, organic, fresh, green and woody, communal, not processed. Renaissance mock rock and folk textures, imagination not just regurgitating the past for the purists but living it and feeling the pain and passion of the day. Transcending the mundane to the peaceful living in a fairy-tale existence, pondering the mysteries of life and death. Pleasure not pressure.”
Ritchie

Tracklist:

CD1 CD2
Shadow Of The Moon I Surrender (bonus track)
Spirit Of The Sea Moonlight Shadow (2017 version)
Renaissance Faire Somewhere Over the Sea (2017 version)
Play Minstrel Play Writing on The Wall (2017 version)
Under A Violet Moon Coming Home (2017 version)
Spanish Nights Ghost Of John (bonus track)

Fires At Midnight Minstrel Hall
Ghost Of A Rose Possum Goes To Prague
Cartouche Durch den Wald zum Bach Haus
Village Lanterne Nur eine Minute
The Circle Village Dance
25 Years Land Of Hope And Glory (2017 single version
Dandelion Wine Bonus video
Home Again (live)